Free-running Folau will give me room to move, says flyer Kingston

THERE are few in rugby with better inside knowledge of Israel Folau's potential than Tom Kingston.

The young Waratahs winger will start in the back line with Folau in the side's season opener against Queensland on Saturday, and says the NSW fullback is as exciting to play with as he is to watch.

''He drags in that many defenders that it doesn't matter who runs outside of him a lot of the time, guys like me and Drew [Mitchell] and Lachie [Turner] just have to pick our lines right and you can get some pay out there,'' Kingston says.

Of course it does matter who runs outside Folau, and Saturday's wing spots were among the most hotly contested in the starting XV.

Kingston beat the likes of Test-capped Turner and rookie Michael Hodge to get his start. Coach Michael Cheika went with the Sydney University player because, he said, he wanted a pure flyer who could ''pin his ears back every time he gets the ball''.

''It is the way it goes in rugby, and if you ask the same question to a guy like Lachie or Drew that's probably how they got their opportunities, so it is a cyclical thing,'' Kingston said of his elevation to the starting side.

''At the same time, that competition means it's not [being selected in] week one and starting for the rest of the season, it's that continual competition week in, week out. Cheik's shown he's going to pick the guy in the best form, so you've got to be carrying that form in week to week.''

Kingston's form was among the strongest in the squad during the Waratahs' three trial matches against the Rebels, Blues and Crusaders. Played in combination with Folau for some time in each match, the pair's partnership helped Kingston score three tries against the Blues and gave the Waratahs' attack genuine unpredictability.

Kingston said the time on field with Folau was invaluable.

''Athletically [Folau is] probably one of the best guys I've seen come through the door out of anyone I've trained with,'' he said of his teammate. ''The Crusaders was a great test, guys that have played 60 or 70 Super Rugby games still can't tackle him first-up, and that's an incredible trait to have. He just beats people one on one. Not even one on one, three on one he was beating people.''

Saturday night will be the toughest test yet of the Waratahs oft-mentioned new attacking style. Kingston, 21, who is starting his second full season with NSW, said the side had been ironing out the kinks that were visible in their final warm-up against the Crusaders last week.

''[It was] pushing a last pass, and that's in a lot of ways not a bad thing because it's the energy and the enthusiasm coming out,'' he said. ''If those passes go to hand we're 20 points up against the Crusaders, and everyone's cheering.''

There is no lack of confidence in Kingston but it is born of dedication and a studious application to his game, traits he said he modelled off Berrick Barnes and Tom Carter.

''In my first year [2011] I came in halfway through and it was all bright lights, but then you get a full season under your belt and you realise it's a long slog, and you have to be diligent about your preparation every week because otherwise you can let it slip so quickly in the season,'' he said.

''We did let it slip at points last year … but I don't know that at any point last year we were as comfortable with our own game plan than we are this week.''

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